Bodies of four Italian divers found in Maldives, says foreign ministry

Rescuers have located the bodies of four Italian divers believed to be deep inside an underwater cave in a Maldive atoll, Italy’s foreign ministry has said.

The searches had resumed on Monday after being suspended following the death of a local military diver during a perilous mission to try to reach them.

Five Italian divers are believed to have died while exploring a cave at a depth of about 50 metres (160 feet) in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday, according to the Italian ministry.

The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is 30 metres (98 feet).

The body of one Italian — a diving instructor — was found earlier outside the cave.